Braves vs. Phillies
When: 8:05 tonight
TV: ESPN
ATLANTA — The winter of discontent now seems to be a distant memory for Frank Wren and the Atlanta Braves.
Following the Braves’ first 90-loss season since 1990 last year, fans grew increasingly impatient as Wren repeatedly whiffed in his initial offseason attempts to improve the roster.
Long trade talks with San Diego for Jake Peavy went nowhere. Then the general manager was turned down by A.J. Burnett, one of the top free-agent pitchers, and shortstop Rafael Furcal.
Complaints from fans reached a high when longtime favorite John Smoltz signed with Boston before going public with his criticisms of the Braves’ inferior offer.
Finally, Wren also finished as the runner-up in his bid for outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who instead returned to Seattle.
The long line of frustrations made Braves fans restless. Then Wren’s luck began to turn.
Wren, who added starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan in a six-player trade with the Chicago
White Sox in December, finished the offseason on a roll. He added right-handers Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami to the rotation and signed left fielder Garret Anderson to provide much-needed punch to the outfield.
As a final answer to criticism from fans still stung by the loss of Smoltz, Wren on Tuesday announced a contract extension through 2012 for third baseman Chipper Jones. Smoltz was the last connection to the 1991 season that started the Braves’ run
of 14 straight playoff seasons, but Jones remains as a franchise player who was around for the 1995 World Series championship.
Jones had strong criticism for Braves management after Smoltz signed with the Red Sox, but the comeback by Wren had the veteran third baseman feeling optimistic about the 2009 season.
“If spring training is any gauge, it’s going to be real positive year for Atlanta,” Jones said. “We’ve played really well. We’ve pitched well early in games, which we had trouble doing last year with all the injuries. Last year we were down four or five runs way too often.
“With Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, our starting pitching is much better. They will keep us in games and let the offense have time to get going.”
The Braves also felt good about their starting pitching a year ago, but injuries took out Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton and ace Tim Hudson, who is expected to miss most or all of this season following elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
Hampton signed with Houston but Glavine is back as the No. 5 starter following elbow and shoulder surgeries.
Lowe, who signed a $60 million, four-year deal, is the new ace. He was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Dodgers last season and
will pitch the opener on tonight at Philadelphia.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying you’re going to be nervous,” Lowe said. “It’s not only my opening day, but opening day for a
new team. I want to get off to a good start. They’ll be putting up the championship flag in Philly and getting their World Series
rings. It will be exciting.”
Lowe also is scheduled to start the Braves’ home opener on Friday night against Washington.
“You’re looking at two highly emotional games back-to-back,” he said. “It’s going to be very important for me to settle down as fast as I can. I can’t get too emotional.”
Jair Jurrjens, who was 13-10 as a rookie in 2008, joins Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami and Glavine in the rotation.
Waiting in Triple-A Gwinnett will be top prospect Tommy Hanson, who had a strong spring after being named MVP of the
Arizona Fall League. Other options include Jorge Campillo, who was 8-7 with a 3.91 ERA, and Jo-Jo Reyes. Campillo and Reyes combined for 47 starts with Atlanta last season.
With Hanson, Campillo, Reyes and Charlie Morton available as backups, the Braves begin the season with an apparent surplus of starters.
Manager Bobby Cox says the depth is good news one year after Atlanta’s starters ranked 27th in innings pitched.
“We’ve really improved our club,” Cox said. “Frank (Wren) did a great job this winter. I feel real good about our pitching.
“That’s the name of the game, pitching, pitching and more pitching. I thought we were in pretty good shape last year, but then everyone got hurt.
I think we’ve got more options this year, but you still have to avoid injuries as much as you can.”
The Braves’ relievers threw 554À innings last year, more than every other team except Texas and Pittsburgh, according to STATS, Inc.
The offseason emphasis was finding new starters who have demonstrated a consistent ability to post 200 innings.
“The Braves have always been built around pitching and think we’ll get that back this season,” Lowe said. “All of the starters are capable of a lot of innings and that always helps a bullpen. We’ve got veterans, plus some good young arms. I’m excited about doing my part.”
A healthy rotation should put less pressure on a lineup which boasted little speed or power last season, especially after cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira was traded to the Angels on July 29. Casey Kotchman, who replaced Teixeira at first base, hit only .237 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 43 games with Atlanta.
Left fielder Jeff Francoeur struggled all season, hitting .239 with 11 homers and 71 RBIs. He hit only two home runs after the
All-Star break as Atlanta’s outfielders combined for only 27 homers — the low mark in the majors.
The Braves are hoping the addition of Anderson and improved production from Francoeur and Kotchman will add support for Jones and Brian McCann in the middle of the lineup. Jones was the NL batting champion with his career-best .364 average, and McCann was an All-Star while hitting .301 with 23 homers and a team-best 87 RBIs.
Francoeur hit 29 homers and drove in 103 runs in 2006.
He hit .293 with 105 RBIs but only 19 homers in 2007 and added muscle before last season in hopes of boosting his power game. That plan didn’t work, so he returned to more traditional baseball workouts this offseason.
“We’ve got great pitching again,” Francoeur said. “As hitters, we don’t want to lose because we aren’t doing our job. With our starters capable of going six or seven innings each time, we are going to be in every game. We’re not going to be behind early like we were so many times last year.”
The most-watched position battle of the spring was in center field, where top prospect Jordan Schafer challenged Josh Anderson and Gregor Blanco.
Schafer played so well in the field this spring that Cox compared the rookie hopeful with Andruw Jones.
Wren also was impressed. He traded Josh Anderson to Detroit on Monday for minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow, possibly clearing the way for Schafer to start.
McCann says the Braves, who finished fourth in the NL East in 2008, are ready to challenge the champion Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.
“It’s time for us to get back on top,” McCann said.
“I think we’re all excited. We’ve got a great rotation and our bullpen is healthy. If we score runs like we should, we’ll be in the race all year. It’s on our lineup to come through.”
Following the Braves’ first 90-loss season since 1990 last year, fans grew increasingly impatient as Wren repeatedly whiffed in his initial offseason attempts to improve the roster.
Long trade talks with San Diego for Jake Peavy went nowhere. Then the general manager was turned down by A.J. Burnett, one of the top free-agent pitchers, and shortstop Rafael Furcal.
Complaints from fans reached a high when longtime favorite John Smoltz signed with Boston before going public with his criticisms of the Braves’ inferior offer.
Finally, Wren also finished as the runner-up in his bid for outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who instead returned to Seattle.
The long line of frustrations made Braves fans restless. Then Wren’s luck began to turn.
Wren, who added starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan in a six-player trade with the Chicago
White Sox in December, finished the offseason on a roll. He added right-handers Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami to the rotation and signed left fielder Garret Anderson to provide much-needed punch to the outfield.
As a final answer to criticism from fans still stung by the loss of Smoltz, Wren on Tuesday announced a contract extension through 2012 for third baseman Chipper Jones. Smoltz was the last connection to the 1991 season that started the Braves’ run
of 14 straight playoff seasons, but Jones remains as a franchise player who was around for the 1995 World Series championship.
Jones had strong criticism for Braves management after Smoltz signed with the Red Sox, but the comeback by Wren had the veteran third baseman feeling optimistic about the 2009 season.
“If spring training is any gauge, it’s going to be real positive year for Atlanta,” Jones said. “We’ve played really well. We’ve pitched well early in games, which we had trouble doing last year with all the injuries. Last year we were down four or five runs way too often.
“With Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, our starting pitching is much better. They will keep us in games and let the offense have time to get going.”
The Braves also felt good about their starting pitching a year ago, but injuries took out Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton and ace Tim Hudson, who is expected to miss most or all of this season following elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
Hampton signed with Houston but Glavine is back as the No. 5 starter following elbow and shoulder surgeries.
Lowe, who signed a $60 million, four-year deal, is the new ace. He was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Dodgers last season and
will pitch the opener on tonight at Philadelphia.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying you’re going to be nervous,” Lowe said. “It’s not only my opening day, but opening day for a
new team. I want to get off to a good start. They’ll be putting up the championship flag in Philly and getting their World Series
rings. It will be exciting.”
Lowe also is scheduled to start the Braves’ home opener on Friday night against Washington.
“You’re looking at two highly emotional games back-to-back,” he said. “It’s going to be very important for me to settle down as fast as I can. I can’t get too emotional.”
Jair Jurrjens, who was 13-10 as a rookie in 2008, joins Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami and Glavine in the rotation.
Waiting in Triple-A Gwinnett will be top prospect Tommy Hanson, who had a strong spring after being named MVP of the
Arizona Fall League. Other options include Jorge Campillo, who was 8-7 with a 3.91 ERA, and Jo-Jo Reyes. Campillo and Reyes combined for 47 starts with Atlanta last season.
With Hanson, Campillo, Reyes and Charlie Morton available as backups, the Braves begin the season with an apparent surplus of starters.
Manager Bobby Cox says the depth is good news one year after Atlanta’s starters ranked 27th in innings pitched.
“We’ve really improved our club,” Cox said. “Frank (Wren) did a great job this winter. I feel real good about our pitching.
“That’s the name of the game, pitching, pitching and more pitching. I thought we were in pretty good shape last year, but then everyone got hurt.
I think we’ve got more options this year, but you still have to avoid injuries as much as you can.”
The Braves’ relievers threw 554À innings last year, more than every other team except Texas and Pittsburgh, according to STATS, Inc.
The offseason emphasis was finding new starters who have demonstrated a consistent ability to post 200 innings.
“The Braves have always been built around pitching and think we’ll get that back this season,” Lowe said. “All of the starters are capable of a lot of innings and that always helps a bullpen. We’ve got veterans, plus some good young arms. I’m excited about doing my part.”
A healthy rotation should put less pressure on a lineup which boasted little speed or power last season, especially after cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira was traded to the Angels on July 29. Casey Kotchman, who replaced Teixeira at first base, hit only .237 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 43 games with Atlanta.
Left fielder Jeff Francoeur struggled all season, hitting .239 with 11 homers and 71 RBIs. He hit only two home runs after the
All-Star break as Atlanta’s outfielders combined for only 27 homers — the low mark in the majors.
The Braves are hoping the addition of Anderson and improved production from Francoeur and Kotchman will add support for Jones and Brian McCann in the middle of the lineup. Jones was the NL batting champion with his career-best .364 average, and McCann was an All-Star while hitting .301 with 23 homers and a team-best 87 RBIs.
Francoeur hit 29 homers and drove in 103 runs in 2006.
He hit .293 with 105 RBIs but only 19 homers in 2007 and added muscle before last season in hopes of boosting his power game. That plan didn’t work, so he returned to more traditional baseball workouts this offseason.
“We’ve got great pitching again,” Francoeur said. “As hitters, we don’t want to lose because we aren’t doing our job. With our starters capable of going six or seven innings each time, we are going to be in every game. We’re not going to be behind early like we were so many times last year.”
The most-watched position battle of the spring was in center field, where top prospect Jordan Schafer challenged Josh Anderson and Gregor Blanco.
Schafer played so well in the field this spring that Cox compared the rookie hopeful with Andruw Jones.
Wren also was impressed. He traded Josh Anderson to Detroit on Monday for minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow, possibly clearing the way for Schafer to start.
McCann says the Braves, who finished fourth in the NL East in 2008, are ready to challenge the champion Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.
“It’s time for us to get back on top,” McCann said.
“I think we’re all excited. We’ve got a great rotation and our bullpen is healthy. If we score runs like we should, we’ll be in the race all year. It’s on our lineup to come through.”